Vampire: The Masquerade (V:tM) is a role-playing game set in the World of Darkness, a dark and grim reflection of our world. In it, supernatural creatures secretly manipulate humanity from the shadows.
As players in V:tM, you’ll portray vampires striving to survive the halls of power, politics, and personal horror, all the while trying to balance their predatory nature with the last vestiges of their humanity.
The Masquerade
In the WoD, vampires exist hidden within human society for the most part, preying on the living while struggling against their own bestial urges. Society was mostly unaware of their existence due to a practice called the Masquerade, a strict code of secrecy vampires upheld to avoid human retaliation.
However, not everyone believed in hiding their true nature.
Major Vampire Sects
The Camarilla – The most structured and hierarchical sect, the Camarilla invented and emphasizes maintaining the Masquerade. It enforces order and tradition, with strict laws to keep vampires hidden from humanity while trying to preserve their own. While powerful, the Camarilla faces instability due to the Beckoning (see below) and internal conflicts.
The Anarchs – Opposing the Camarilla’s rigid authority, the Anarchs advocate personal freedom and self-governance. With traditional power structures weakened, they seize opportunities to establish independent domains and communities.
The Sabbat – The Sabbat are a fanatical sect that rejects humanity entirely, fully believing they should embrace their true nature: apex predators who feed on human cattle. Driven by apocalyptic beliefs, they seek the destruction of the Antediluvians believing only through brutality, pack loyalty, and ritual can they survive the coming end.
Transition to V5
If you’ve played V:tM previously, here are some changes to expect in v5.
Previous editions of Vampire focused heavily on intricate Kindred politics and rivalries. In V5, the landscape has drastically changed:
The Second Inquisition: Human governments have uncovered the existence of vampires, launching covert operations that threaten Kindred survival.
The Beckoning: Ancient vampires (8th gen and lower), compelled by a mysterious force, have vanished eastward, creating power vacuums filled by younger vampires.
The Gehenna War: A conflict waged primarily by the Sabbat against ancient vampires called Antediluvians, drawing vampires into a desperate struggle for survival. The Sabbat believes the Camarilla are puppets of the ancients and are often primary targets.
Glossary of Key Terms
- Antediluvians: Legendary ancient vampires, believed to be progenitors of the vampire clans, whose awakening signals apocalypse (Gehenna).
- Beckoning: The mysterious force pulling elder vampires toward the East, leaving power vacuums.
- Caine: Killed his brother Abel in biblical lore and was cursed by God to feast on life eternally, making him the first vampire. He embraced three others, his “children”, the 2nd generation of vampires. Caine warned them not to make more. They went against his wishes, and created the 3rd generation, known as the Antediluvians, who rose up and slew Caine’s children. Caine cursed the 13 and withdrew from all of society, fading into myth and legend. The 13 went on to embrace more, creating the clans of vampires played in V:tM.
- Camarilla: The largest vampire sect, prioritizing secrecy, hierarchy, and tradition.
- Gehenna: A prophesied apocalypse involving the awakening of the Antediluvians.
- Kindred: Another term for vampires.
- Masquerade: The strict secrecy vampires uphold to protect their existence from humanity.
- Methuselah: Considered the 4th and 5th generation of vampires, the descendants of the Antediluvians.
- Second Inquisition: Human organizations actively hunting and destroying vampires.
- Anarch Movement: Vampires who reject the Camarilla’s authoritarian control and advocate self-rule.
- Sabbat: A fanatical vampire sect, driven by religious fervor and the mission to defeat the Antediluvians.
Gehenna War: History
Pre-Modern Era
• 500-Year War: The Gehenna War is the latest phase of a 500-year conflict waged by the Sabbat against the Antediluvians and their pawns.
Early Twentieth-Century
• 2012: The Beckoning begins, drawing elder vampires away from their domains, including those of the Camarilla and Sabbat.
• 2013: Increased Sabbat activity is reported as elders disappear due to the Beckoning.
• 2014: The Camarilla strengthens its control over major cities, anticipating Sabbat movements.
• 2015: Open conflict between the Camarilla and the Sabbat marks the beginning of the modern Gehenna War.
Modern Nights
2016 – The Gehenna War escalates as Sabbat offensives are launched in North America and Europe.
• January: Major Sabbat offensives begin, targeting key Camarilla strongholds.
• March: The Camarilla calls for a united front, temporarily allying with Anarchs.
• June: Sabbat forces capture parts of key cities, such as New York and Madrid.
• September: Mass embraces and increased mortal casualties are reported.
2017 – The Camarilla regains control of several territories.
• May: Anarchs exploit the chaos to claim territories.
• August: Rumors of Antediluvians and Methuselahs awakening spread.
• November: Major battles in Chicago and Berlin result in heavy losses.
2018 – Desperation and the conflict intensifies.
• January: Camarilla initiates a scorched earth policy.
• April: Sabbat crusades intensify, targeting both Kindred and kine.
• July: The Red List is updated with new names.
• October: The Beckoning intensifies, causing more power vacuums.
2019 – Cataclysmic struggles for all.
• March: The Second Inquisition launches attacks on Kindred.
• June: Major Kindred leaders disappear.
• September: Key Sabbat leaders are destroyed in Camarilla-led assaults.
• December: The war reaches a stalemate.
Present Day
• February 2020: The Camarilla consolidates control over key cities.
• May 2020: Large-scale battles become less frequent.
• August 2020: Anarchs expand their influence.
• November 2020: The Gehenna War is declared over by some leaders, but many Kindred remain skeptical.
• 2021-2024: Continuing tensions and aftermath.
• 2021-2024: The Kindred world remains uneasy. The Beckoning continues to affect elders, and the threat of Gehenna persists. The Second Inquisition remains a significant threat.
The Vampire Clans of V:tM — editions compared
| Clan | 20th Anniversary Edition (V20) | 5th Edition (V5) |
|---|---|---|
| Brujah | Rebels and intellectuals advocating radical change. | Passionate rebels, fiercely independent; predominantly Anarch. |
| Gangrel | Wanderers, deeply connected to nature and beasts. | Independent, often siding with Anarchs; less formally aligned. |
| Malkavian | Insightful but often insane, possessing prophetic madness. | Insightful seers, primarily within the Camarilla. |
| Nosferatu | Hideously disfigured information brokers and spies. | Secretive and information-focused, influential in multiple sects. |
| Toreador | Obsessed with beauty, indulgent artists. | Social elites and artists, predominantly Camarilla. |
| Tremere | Structured blood sorcerers, occultists with strict hierarchy. | Weakened but still influential blood sorcerers; split by internal divisions. |
| Ventrue | Aristocrats maintaining traditional hierarchies and influence. | Leaders and power brokers, central to Camarilla control. |
| Caitiff | Clanless, versatile, marginalized. | Clanless outsiders, versatile but often marginalized. |
| Thin-Bloods | Weak-blooded vampires facing marginalization. | Increasingly numerous, facing persecution from all sects. |
| Lasombra | Shadowy manipulators, key members of the Sabbat. | Many have defected to the Camarilla, causing internal turmoil. |
| Tzimisce | Flesh-sculpting vampires, traditionally powerful Sabbat members. | Reduced visibility; remain largely loyal to Sabbat, operating covertly. |
| Assamite (Banu Haqim) | Secretive assassins, justice-seekers. | Now largely independent, with many joining the Camarilla and Anarchs. |
| Followers of Set (The Ministry) | Manipulators and corrupters, followers of Set. | Renamed the Ministry, aligned predominantly with Anarchs. |
| Giovanni (Hecata) | Necromancers organized as a family and clan. | Merged into Hecata, encompassing Giovanni, Cappadocians, Harbingers of Skulls, Samedi, Nagaraja, and Lamia. |
| Ravnos | Nomadic illusionists, wanderers seen as tricksters. | Nearly destroyed, survivors scattered and rare. |
| Salubri | Rare, persecuted healers and warriors. | Explicitly present, heavily persecuted, still rare. |